Massena home becomes getaway for injued soldiers

MASSENA  A riverside home has been converted into a retreat for injured soldiers, who are arriving from around the country.

The home is owned by Operation Grateful Nation, a national charity based in Conroe, Texas, that provides mentoring, training and career placement for disabled veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. The charity was founded by John and Rena Wing, formerly of Massena and now residing in Texas. The Wings were unavailable for comment Monday.

The couple transferred control of their Massena home over to the charity late last year. The riverside property was named renamed Base Camp Serenity, and has served as a retreat for wounded soldiers ever since.

It did not take them long at all for word to get out and people to start saying there, said Operation Grateful Nation spokeswoman Lindsay S. Ashmore.

With a swimming pool, jacuzzi and pontoon boat, the house is prepared to provide a year-round getaway to soldiers and their families, with boating in the summer and hunting in the fall and winter.

Robert J. Giordano, chairman of Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures, handles the local side of the charity, booking the house for soldiers and their families and providing them with tours of the St. Lawrence River.

The operation of the home and the activities of Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures are funded by donations.

Veterans have been staying at the house sporadically since 2011, but it has only been part of Operation Grateful Nation since early this year. Word of free vacations for soldiers and their families is spreading quickly.

Right now its just word of mouth, and were pretty booked up for the next several months, Ms. Ashmore said.

Soldiers are allowed up to 5-day stays, and can come twice a year depending on how full the schedule is.

The charity has big plans for Base Camp Serenitys first official summer.

Soldiers will stay at the house when the Bassmasters Elite fishing tournament comes to the area in August, and one will win a fully-equipped fishing kayak.

Injured Army Rangers from Washington state will be staying at the home throughout the summer.

Mr. Giordano said he especially wants to reach out to veterans who may have fallen through the cracks, who do not or cannot partake in some of the other services offered to veterans.

Its supposed to be an escape for our service men and women to relax and enjoy themselves on the waterfront. And its absolutely no cost for them, he said.

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